...check out this band!

Explosions in the Sky.

What kind of images come to mind when your eyes skim those words? Maybe you see a dark July sky, filled with loud noises, colors, and light. Maybe the thought of a star going supernova, combusting and devastating all things around it in the darkness of space. Or maybe it's as simple as a calm afternoon as the sun fades beyond clouds or mountain ranges in the distance, majestically setting the horizon aflame with color.

Now imagine all those things combined. Imagine all of those raw images, scenes, and events being converted to music. That only begins to explain the band, Explosions in the Sky.

A post-rock group from Texas, Explosions in the Sky forgoes vocals and engages the listener instead with very emotional and engaging instrumentals. Mostly comprised of simply three guitars and a set of drums, these boys from Texas seem to tell entire stories without using a single word.

One of my favorite tracks by these guys is a song called, "So Long, Lonesome," off their 2007 album, "All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone." For me personally, it's a really introspective song. It clears my mind, encourages me, and makes me feel like a more confident person as it winds down. Starting off slow with a gently jangling guitar, contrasted by a calm accompanying piano arrangement, it quietly yet majestically builds towards an ending filled with emphatic drums before fading out.

In the course of this beautiful eight minute track, "Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean," from their 2003 album, "The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place," I feel like I am actually living out what the title suggests. Slight ambient, echoing guitar parts, paired in places with powerful guitar and drums throughout the piece, again, give it wonderful emotional range and the feeling of drifting beneath the waves of the mighty ocean.

Some bands are heavily touted for their deep lyrics. Some bands are praised for their profound insights on life, politics, love, and everything in between. Explosions in the Sky should be credited with all these things, only with one main difference.

The entire band is a single voice. Their instruments, not their mouths, tell the stories. In a time of recycled beats, auto-tuned lyrics, and sell-outs, Explosions in the Sky is certainly a breath of fresh air. One that I suggest you take.

"Look into the Air," from the 2000 album, "How Strange, Innocence."